Eagles hope to hang on to the ball

W. Curt Vincent Editor

October 3, 2013

ELIZABETHTOWN — The sting of last week’s last-minute 16-13 loss to Midway is still being felt by the East Bladen coaching staff, but they have spent the week getting the Eagles ready for the next challenge — a matchup with the Dark Horses of Clinton.

“The players forget those kinds of things (the loss) a lot quicker than we do,” coach Robby Priest said. “There’s still a bad taste in my mouth over it, but we have to right the ship and get after the next one.”

The next one won’t be anything like the doctor ordered for the 1-4 overall, 0-1 in the Four County Conference Eagles. Clinton, which is 2-2, 1-0, doesn’t put many points up on the board — having scored just 68 points in four games — but also gives up even less — allowing just 57 points so far.

The Dark Horses operate the offense out of the Wing T, and its stable of running backs is led by Silas Herring, a Div. I prospect, along with Kenneth Ford. It’s also got a solid front line that includes Lane Hall, Austin Stenger, Storm Cannady, Khari Smith and tight end Jacob Smith.

The defense, which shows a 40 but has variations, is led by linemen T.J. Boone, another Div. I prospect, and Ray Deaver. Clinton also has a top linebacker in Elexus Rainer and quick pass defenders in Kris Royal, Lajuan Ashley and Hyson Howard.

“Every game we’ve lost, we had four or more turnovers,” he said. “We have to play with a sense or urgency, hold on to the ball, play good, hard football for all four quarters and be able to stop their run.”